Typically responds within
A couple of days
Taku kuru pounamu.
My precious treasure.
Our tamariki are the taonga gifted to us by our tupuna. They are our hope for the future and we believe that we cannot view our tamariki as separate from their whanau, hapu and iwi or from the environment which we are all a part of.
By putting whanau and Te Ao Maori at the heart of our curriculum, He Pounamu Early Nurture will provide a nurturing, supportive and culturally inclusive environment, led by this whakatauki, which places such importance on our youngest of citizens; our mokopuna/tamariki.
“Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu.“
Although it is small, it is a treasure.
Nurturing our tamariki, within a pedagogy of aroha, means that we respect and listen; we follow individual rhythms and urges; we uphold their mana; we educate in meaningful and relevant ways; and we protect them as the precious taonga that they are.
Nurturing our whānau means that we wrap the whānau in a korowai of aroha. We understand that the whānau are the ones who know their tamariki best. They bring their culture, beliefs and values to us; they share their taonga with us; and it is our responsibility to include and welcome them. We actively acknowledge our own cultural lens in order to allow the lens and perspective of our whānau to be considered and embraced.
Nurturing te taiao means we are constantly challenging practices towards a deep and genuine love for our world. We align with te Ao Māori ways of being, to connect to Papatūānuku, and understand our role as environmentalists, our impact as consumers, and our agency here in Aotearoa, and globally.
Kaupapa Whakahaere
Mana Tāngata – Caring for ourselves.
Kaitiakitanga mō te Taiao – Caring for the environment.
Manaakitanga mō Tātou – Caring for others.